With directorKevin Macdonald’sGuantanamo Bay dramaThe Mauritanianopening in select theaters this weekend, I recently got to speak withTahar Rahimabout playingMohamedou Ould Slahi.Written byM.B. Traven,Rory Haines, andSohrab Noshirvaniand based on the NY Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” byMohamedou Ould Slahi, the film tells the inspiring true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years. Led by an incredible lead performance byRahim(who was recently nominated for a Golden Globe), the movie also starsJodie FosterasSlahi’s defense attorney,Benedict Cumberbatchas the military prosecutor trying to convict Slahi, Shailene Woodleyas Foster’s associate lawyer, andZachary Levias a CIA agent. For more on the filmwatch the trailerorread Matt Goldberg’s review.
During the interview with Rahim, he talked about why Kevin Macdonald was the right filmmaker to tell Slahi’s story, why he tried to create the conditions Slahi dealt with in prison, what was it like meeting Mohamedou for the first time, what kind of pressure he felt taking on this role, and more. In addition, we talked about his work on directorJacques Audiard’sA Prophetand if he had any idea it would turn out to be such a special film.
Check out what he had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis.
Tahar Rahim:
Here’s the official synopsis forThe Mauritanian:
Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster stars as Nancy Hollander, a defense attorney who takes on the case of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim), a Mauritanian man who stands accused of recruiting the terrorists who flew a plane into the World Trade Center on 9/11. Captured by the U.S. government, Mohamedou languishes in prison for years without charge or trial, nearly losing all hope until he finds allies in Nancy and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley). Together they face countless obstacles in a desperate pursuit for justice. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by formidable military prosecutor Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), eventually reveals a shocking and far-reaching conspiracy.
